Roll baffle

ABSTRACT

The invention is a simple inexpensive improved method of providing air flow from the outside soffit are into the attic. The method provides 100% containment of blown insulation from blow over into the soffit area. The physical material is extremely less than other methods thus providing a much less material handling transportation to the work site. Application is simpler and requires less labor during installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of endeavor relates to the ventilation process providing air In-flow from an external source into the attic area creating proper air balance in residential and commercial buildings.

It has long since been a desire of builders to adequately provide air inflow channeled from an exterior source (soffit) thru the roof rafters into and out of the attic area. The creation of proper air balance in the attic area addresses the concerns of ice formation on the roof, removal of excess moisture and excess heat from the attic area to maintain structural integrity and provide correct conditions allowing the insulation to perform as intended.

Residential and commercial building attics are insulated using a variety of materials and methods. Containing the attic fibers of insulation while facilitating maximum air inflow from the outside source areas into the attic and out the roof vents is extremely desirable.

Construction costs and higher energy rates necessitate optimum insulation functionality including air balancing.

Various inventions made of plastic, foam, etc. have attempted to provide proper air channeling from an outside source between the roof rafters into the attic area.

Problems with these Inventions are:

These inventions require the use of multi-strips of material that are individually placed between each set of roof rafters. The cost is increased by the additional labor require to install individual pieces between the roof rafters.

Roof rafter differ in their spacing. Given differing spacing between the roof rafters, the manufacturing cost is impacted unfavorably by the need to design and manufacture these spacers to allow variability. Also, installation labor is increased by the need to physically adjust the individual spacers on the construction site to fit the desire spacing based on individual building architecture.

These and other inventions do not provide full air inflow from external sources to the attic area because their construction under utilizes the cubic space between the roof rafters. There height is less than the height of normal rafter construction and therefore does not take advantage of the full air pocket between the rafters. Also, their structure prohibits air inflow as the nature of their structure decreases air inflow.

Their construction also allows insulation to pass into the external air source by forming an open-air channel underneath them that is ultimately blocked by insulation. Before this area is block insulation (blown) passes to the exterior source (soffit) reducing air inflow. Also, this open-air channel underneath these inventions exposes the insulation directly to moisture reducing the effectiveness of the insulation factor.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is the intent of this invention to create a new excellent channel for maximum continuous air inflow from the exterior ventilation area into the attic area and provide a barrier for insulation containment in the attic area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a top view of the Roll Baffle (1) invention. This view is a flat drawing of the invention showing a portion of the invention composed of the first few feet of a full-length piece of approximately 50 feet. The remainder of the piece is a repetition of the first few feet shown. Perforated rectangular slots (2) along the one edge of the length are positioned on 8″ centered spacing (10). The perforated area is 1-½″ wide (11) and 10″ in height (12). The overall width of the invention is approximately 36″ and running approximately 50′ in length.

The invention can be composed of various materials such as, plastic film, paper or fabric. The thickness will vary with material. Drawing FIG. 1 a is of typical plastic film with a thickness of approximately 4 mil (9). Other dimensional specifications are listed in the ‘List of Reference Numerals’.

FIG. 2 is an ISO view of the Roll Baffle (1) showing the perforated slot (2), 8″ spacing of the slots (10), slot width of 1-½″ (11), 10″ perforated slot height (12). Typical length is 50′ and typical width is 36′.

FIG. 3 is an installed position example of the Roll Baffle (1) without showing the building structure. The drop down area (17) extends downward along the inside of the exterior studded wall while the Roll Baffle upper portion (16) extends upward being attached to the lower side of the studding.

FIG. 4 shows typical application of the Roll Baffle (1). It is shown in position as in FIG. 3 but as attached to a typical frame structure with exterior studded walls (6), roof rafters (15) and ceiling joists (5). The perforated slots (2) are torn as needed to fit the architectural design in the appropriate place so as to allow the lower portion of the Roll Baffle (17) to fit around the union of the ceiling joists (5) and roof rafters (15) immediately above the exterior wall studding (6). The upper portion of the Roll Baffle (16) extends upward from the lower portion (17) and attached to the lower side of the roof rafters (15). The Roll Baffle is attached to the bottom of the roof rafters using common staples (4) or other means of attachment. As attached the upper portion of the Roll Baffle (16) forms a continuous air channel within the roof rafters (15) allowing the full cubic area within the rafters to be used as a channel for air inflow (3) from the outside area to the inside attic.

The Roll Baffle runs continuously from the end of the building (13) to the opposite end of the building (14) providing maximum air inflow (3) from the entire outside structure to the attic area.

FIG. 5 shows the application of typical ceiling finished material such as drywall (7). After the installation of the finished drywall (7) or other ceiling materials the Roll Baffle (1 ) will form a barrier maintaining the insulation in the attic area and providing a channel for maximum air (3) inflow from the outside source into the attic area. FIG. 6 further shows the external air inflow-(3 ) as it enters from the outside source and flows along the top side of the Roll Baffle (1) and into the attic area.

NUMERAL INDEX

-   1. Roll Baffle -   2. Perforated slot -   3. Air flow -   4. Staples -   5. Ceiling joists -   6. Wall studs -   7. Drywall -   8. Insulation -   9. Typical thickness 4 mil. -   10. Spacing -   11 Perforated width -   12 Perforated height -   13. Ending of building -   14. Opposite end of building -   15. Roof rafter -   16. Roll Baffle upper portion -   17. Roll Baffle lower portion

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

This invention is a continuous sheet of plastic or other material cut and perforated in such a manner as to allow it to be attached where the roof rafters join the ceiling joists resting on the exterior wall. The invention is attached in this area to the bottom of the roof rafters and to the inside of the exterior studding and while passing downward around the ceiling joists. 

1. This invention forms an improved channel for air inflow as indicated in the attached drawings and description. This protects the attic insulation from immediate contact of moist air and prevents the escape of insulation to the external source (soffit). Another objective is to provide a more labor efficient installation method. The current invention method reduces the labor necessary to provide air inflow into the attic area. This invention is installed as one continuous unit when initial construction of framing takes place and roof and wall sheeting has been applied. No special physical manipulation of individual pieces between each set of roof rafters is required as in other inventions which increases labor costs. Other inventions, requiring individual pieces between roof rafters, are time-consuming and difficult due to inconvenient reduced working areas during installation. Also, additional labor cost is incurred to manipulate the size of manufactured pieces to fit differing roof rafter spacing. Another object is to provide a more cost efficient material. This invention is projected to reduce building costs by providing a less expensive more compact material. Other inventions require purchasing and transporting multiple pieces of materials. Another object is to provide a physically smaller amount of material in the creation of the air inflow gap. Other inventions require several boxes of strips of material. These inventions are a physically larger volume of material for installers to acquire and transport. Another object is to prevent the escape of insulation (especially blown insulation) from the attic area outward to the exterior air source. Other methods allow the escape of insulation increasing cost and reducing air inflow into the attic area and countering the intent of providing air inflow into the attic. Other inventions allow open spacing when placed into the roof rafter channel area allowing insulation to escape during and after installation This problem reduces the allowable air inflow. These inventions also allow some types of insulation to be attached to nails protruding from the roof installation and reduce air inflow. Another object is to provide maximum air inflow. Other inventions do not allow maximum air inflow as the height of these inventions is less than the height of the roof rafter thus not taking advantage of the entire cubic area within the roof rafter spacing. While the current invention being attached to the bottom of the roof rafter in a continuous manner allows for maximum flow of air inflow between the rafters using the entire cubic area provide by roof rafters as a channel. Another object is to increase the efficiency of insulation by creating a definite contained formation of insulation. This invention prevents the escape of insulation and maintains the formation of the insulation as originally installed thus allowing the insulation to perform according to its normal insulating properties. Another object of this invention is to protect the upper layer of insulation from moisture entering the attic from the external source. The installation of this invention channels air above the insulation and not directly across the insulation as other inventions. 